Santa Clara County recently held an art exhibition titled “Remembering Palestinian Children – They Should Play” at the county government center in February. On February 11th, the organizers hosted a luncheon reception and a documentary screening event to express concern and commemoration for children affected by conflicts.
This event was co-organized by the county government and several community groups. The exhibition featured kites as the main theme, displaying a long list with the names of 2,780 children. The organizers stated that these names were of children who tragically lost their lives shortly after the start of the conflict at the end of 2023.
Otto Lee, the Chair of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, expressed during his speech at the event that whether in Ukraine, Sudan, or the Middle East, children often become the most innocent victims of conflicts. He pointed out that casualty numbers reported in the news are often just cold statistics, whereas tangible artistic displays and symbolic elements can help society better understand the plight faced by children. He mentioned that the county had previously held an exhibition titled “Ukrainian Angels” in 2025, and this event continues a similar concept, presenting remembrance and care for children from different regions and cultural backgrounds.
In an interview with the media, Otto Lee further stated that the focus of such exhibitions is not on assigning blame for conflicts but rather reminding the public to pay attention to children who are completely innocent, bear no direct connection to the conflicts, yet suffer significant consequences. He emphasized that society should cherish the current peaceful life more and support resolving disputes through peaceful means.
Representing the organizers, Samina Sundas, stated in her address at the event that the exhibition aims to show the faces and names of children so they are not forgotten. She emphasized that behind each name is a child who once laughed, played, and dreamed. Through the exhibition, she hoped society could see the human side of children and recognize their rights to grow and play.
During the event, highlights of the documentary “Flying Paper” were screened. The film documented the process of Gaza children breaking the world record for simultaneous kite-flying twice between 2010 and 2011. Dina Saba, who assisted in organizing the event, mentioned to a reporter that she first saw this film at its premiere in 2013. She believed the most touching aspect of the film was the natural laughter and interactions of the children, saying, “That is what childhood looks like.” She pointed out that the film portrayed a side of children’s lives, not just the statistical numbers in the news.
The event also included poetry recitations, featuring readings of the poem “War Will End” by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, expressing hopes for peace in a literary manner.
The county government announced that the exhibition would continue until the end of February, open for community members to visit from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, welcoming visitors to learn more and leave messages.
The background of this exhibition relates to recent events in the Middle East. On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas launched an attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and numerous people being kidnapped. Subsequently, Israel carried out military operations in the Gaza Strip, and the conflict has continued since then. According to official data cited by the United Nations and several international media outlets, as of the end of 2025, the conflict has led to over 50,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries or displacements, including a significant number of civilians and children.